Kirkland isn’t far from Seattle which means that they’ve tapped into the coffee culture that Seattle is known for! Here are some of the best coffee shops you’ll find in and around your Kirkland apartment:

1. Urban Coffee Lounge

www.uclkirkland.squarespace.com

The Urban Coffee Lounge is known for its warm, fun vibe, inviting atmosphere and delicious Stumptown Coffee Roaster pours. They also offer an assortment of breakfast sandwiches and baked goods from 13 local bakeries, including Flying Apron, Essential Baking Co., High-5 Pie, Blazing Bagels and many more. It’s owned by a dedicated husband and wife team who manage two locations in the Kirkland area. Their flagship store on 115th St. also serves beer and wine.

2. Caffe Rococo

www.rocococoffee.com/caffe-rococo

Caffe Rococo is an artisan coffee roastery, coffee shop and café. They offer hand-crafted espresso drinks and coffee pours as well as delicious food selections. You can purchase coffee, whole bean or ground, to go, as well as bulk loose leaf tea. Established in 2010, expertly crafted beverages are the norm at Caffé Rococo. They pride themselves on connecting with communities and families in top coffee producing countries to bring premier coffee beans from growth to mill to market to cup. Care is taken every step of the way, and it comes through when you visit Caffe Rococo.

3. Mercurys Coffee Company

www.mercuryscoffee.com

The founders of Mercurys Coffee Company are passionate about providing high-quality coffee and excellent service to the community. They serve certified organic coffee within a warm, inviting atmosphere and culture. All ingredients are minimally processed and they carry five dairy milk alternatives: almond, hemp, coconut, soy and rice. In business since 1998, the Kirkland location is one of six Mercurys coffee shop locations. They have won numerous local business awards and are an area favorite.

4. Aura Bakery & Coffee Bar

www.aurabakery.com

If you need your gourmet breakfast pastry or dessert fix, along with your coffee or Americano, head for Aura Bakery. They serve smooth Intelligensia brand coffee along with an array of delicious fresh-baked goods including gluten-free options.

Kirkland Apartments: The Ideal Pacific Northwest Home Base

Kirkland apartments offer access to the best the Pacific Northwest has to offer. Contact Weidner Apartment Homes to find out about Kirkland apartments available now. When you need your fix, you’ll have convenient access to these top Kirkland coffee shops.

An afternoon of relaxing in your Minneapolis apartment is satisfying, but there’s nothing quite like catching a Twins game with your best friends. The Minnesota Twins have a long and fascinating history that you can revel in at Target Field, while also being a part of the team’s promising future. Need more convincing? The following are just a few of the many reasons why the Twins deserve your support:

4 Great Reasons to Catch a Twins Game

Target Field is worth visiting in and of itself. The baseball park is conveniently nestled in the heart of Minneapolis and, when it’s cold out, can easily be accessed via the skyway system. Regular seats offer a great view of the skyline, but many Twins fans favor the Budweiser roof deck, which blends baseball viewing with socializing to great effect.

Several great bars and restaurants are located adjacent to Target Field, and a variety of other excellent culinary offerings are available within the facility. Local favorites include the Loon Cafe, Two Gingers Pub and the Town Ball Tavern. Whether you grab a beer to enjoy during the game or another few after the Twins win, you’ll enjoy kicking back in the city’s finest dining establishment.

Fun traditions keep Twins fans of all ages engaged. Watching the Minnesota Twins is a blast, of course, but there is also plenty to keep less enthusiastic attendees happy. Many favor the mascot races, which feature a huge mosquito, a mascot version of Babe the Blue Ox and the Target Bullseye mascot.

There is no better way to show your support for the Minnesota Twins. If you’re a true Twins fan, you won’t be content to merely watch the big game at home. A real fan regularly makes a point of heading for Twins territory and gathering with other proud fans. Win or lose, Twins fans support their team through thick and thin — and that means showing up at Target Field.

This summer, watch Joe Mauer work his magic at Target Field. When you return to the Weidner Apartment Homes, you’ll be ready to relax. Reach out today to learn more about our floor plans, amenities, and the wonderful city of Minneapolis.

Are you looking for something interesting or unique to do this weekend? Perhaps you are moving to the area and looking at apartments in South California that are close enough to all of the best attractions here. At Weidner Apartment Homes, you’ll have access to many of the amenities and features you need while also having a prime location to really do and see all that Southern California has to offer.

The Attractions You Just Can’t Miss

Southern California offers something for everyone, but there are some attractions here that you simply have to enjoy at least one time, though it’s likely you’ll want to enjoy them much more often.

#1: Disneyland Resort: It was the first of the Disney empire and is still one of the most popular and sought after amusement parks in the world. In Orange County, this resort offers several different theme parks including a Downtown Disney area, Disney California Adventure Park and the Disneyland Theme Park.

#2: San Diego Zoo: Take a road trip to San Diego and visit this zoo as it really does not compare to the others in the region. There are more than 4,000 animals here including elephants, pandas and cougars. There are also 10 on-site restaurants, stage entertainment and guided tours.

#3: Six Flags Magic Mountain: If you love roller coasters, you’ll appreciate a trip here. There are plenty of things to do in this Los Angeles-area theme park including thrill rides, shows, shopping and fireworks.

#4: Santa Monica Pier: This pier is more than 100 years old and really is the heart and soul of the area. There’s plenty to do here including carnival rides, beachfront access and an aquarium. You’ll have fun and enjoy some old-fashioned ice cream, too.

#5: Palm Springs: For all that is lush in life, visit this location. It is a resort town and about 110 miles from Los Angeles. There are golf courses, a beautiful, 1,200-acre-wildlife and botanical park, and some of the best weather in the area.

Are You Ready to Live the Best Life?

When you take the time to really embrace living in Southern California apartments, you really do get access to it all. Why not give us a call at Weidner Apartments to find out which of our floor plans are still available to you?

Sharing an apartment with your favorite furry friend provides an excellent way to elevate your quality of life. Studies show that those who live with pets are happier and healthier than their pet-free counterparts. However, living with a dog who isn’t trained properly can be a nightmare.

Fortunately, dogs are eager to please by nature and respond well to appropriate training tactics. Residents of apartments in Abilene can ensure that their canine companions are good housemates and welcomed members of the community by following a few simple training tips.

Consistency Counts

You can’t expect a dog to learn if your training times and methods are inconsistent and spotty. Experts recommend keeping initial training times to 15 minutes or less, but be sure to hold training sessions every single day. If you only hold them once every few days, the dog will have forgotten what it learned. Repetition reinforces what you are trying to teach the dog, and even a five-minute session on days when you’re short of time is better than none.

Don’t Use Fear as a Training Tactic

Rewarding dogs with affection and treats when they respond positively to training is much more effective than using fear-based methods. Your dog may learn from this approach, but it will also learn to fear and distrust you. Take advantage of the natural bonding process that exists between humans and dogs, and you’ll create a lifelong friend who wants to make you happy.

Be Realistic

It’s going to take some time for your dog to learn what you’re trying to teach it. Puppies have notoriously short attention spans, and older dogs simply don’t catch on quite as quickly. Don’t expect your dog to learn everything in a short time frame, and don’t overwhelm the animal by trying to teach it too many things at once.

Consider Professional Obedience Training

If you’re short on time, consider professional obedience training for your dog. This is especially helpful for those who want to include a pet in their life but don’t have good animal handling skills. Puppies in particular benefit from receiving obedience training from a professional.

Please contact us at your earliest convenience for more advice on how to successfully share apartment life with furry friends.

Texas summers may be hot, but that’s no reason to spend all day cooped up in your Midland & Odessa apartment. Splashing in the pool is cool, but it’s always great to try something new. These five activities are great for families, groups of friends, or people spending the day on their own.

Geocaching

Download the app from geocache.com. It uses the GPS in your phone to lead you to spots in your neighborhood and around the world. Each spot hides a treasure, small or large, that other game players have hidden. Bring trinkets to trade or just sign your name and move on. How many can you collect this summer?

Ingress

In this virtual game of capture the flag, you join one of two teams, the Enlightened or the Resistance. Using the Ingress app on your smart phone, you can see virtual “portals” positioned in spots in your neighborhood. Capture these portals for your team and try to turn your neighborhood or city into a stronghold for your team. You’ll need to drive or walk to each portal, making many people call this a video game with you as the main character.

Container Gardening

With Texas-sized patios and balconies, our apartments are the perfect spot for you to test out your gardening skills. Grow a salad, create an herb garden or train vines up poles to produce piles of green beans. You’ll be surprised what you can produce in just a few small planters outside your door.

Couch to 5K

Everyone can use a little more exercise in their life. With the Couch to 5K (C25K) program, you’ll get detailed directions on how to work your way up from couch potato to running an actual 5K race. For added motivation, download the Zombies, Run! app. An announcer will break into your running music with ransom emergency messages directing you to run from the zombies.

Gourmet Cooking

Tired of the same old burgers and chicken? Check online for thousands of recipes for cooking on the grill and up your barbecue game by cooking a new dish or two every week, all summer long.

Our communities are uniquely suited for having fun outside, either by yourself or with family and friends. Call our office to make an appointment to see how much you’ll love living here.

Laundry is a dreaded chore, particularly when the weather is nice. Who wants to sit in Minneapolis apartments when the sun is out and the city’s beautiful lakes are calling? Fortunately, there are a variety of clever ways to cut down on laundry time and make sure that each load of laundry comes out looking clean and smelling fresh. From treating stains to cutting drying time, the following hacks will dramatically improve your laundry game:

Tips For Improving Your Laundry Routine

Load a towel in the dryer if you are short on time and need your items to dry quickly. The towel will absorb the moisture from the other clothes, allowing you to remove them from the dryer far sooner than would otherwise be possible.

Treat sweat stains with lemon juice, ammonia, white vinegar, baking soda or hydrogen peroxide. Although effective on white clothing, hydrogen peroxide should not be used to treat colored items.

Spray clothes with lavender water before washing. This makes clothing smell great without the need for softener. The sweet-smelling solution can easily be created by mixing two drops of essential oil with a bottle of water.

Use lingerie bags to keep socks organized. Lost socks are one of the greatest scourges of the laundry room, but by zipping them into lingerie bags, it’s easy to keep pairs together. In addition to preventing lost socks, this tactic drastically reduces sorting time.

Avoid ironing by hanging up clothes right away. It seems obvious, but many people doom themselves to long sessions at the ironing board simply because they fail to get to the dryer fast enough. A combination of quick hanging and wrinkle-resistant clothing can minimize ironing.

Regardless of which of the above tips and tricks you use, it is important to have a system for sorting and completing your laundry. The more organized you are, the less time you’ll spend sorting, washing, and drying your clothes.

Laundry is far more enjoyable when you have access to great facilities. At the Weidner Apartment Homes, we’re all about making this process as efficient as possible. To learn more about our laundry facilities and our other exceptional amenities, get in touch today.

Whether you live in Kirkland, Washington or somewhere else in the country, what better answer is there to the summer heat than a delicious smoothie? Going tropical means you introduce a balmy breeze into your life, whether you are laying by the pool, picnicking with the family or heading off to work. Consider three of the best tasting smoothies to get you through the heat this month.

Pineapple Plus

If pineapple is your idea of a tropical treat, then this is the one for you. Start with one cup of frozen pineapple, preferably one without added syrup or sugar. Add to it an equal serving of chopped mango, frozen or fresh, and a sliced ripe banana. Put your fruit in a blender and mix in one cup of coconut milk and one cup of Greek yogurt. Blend it all until it is thick and smooth.

Add a bit of honey to the recipe if you want it just a little sweeter. You can also change the flavor some by adding in vanilla or by using a vanilla flavored coconut milk.

Go Cranberry

Maybe you are more of a cranberry lover, but you still want something with that tropical edge. Fill your blender with one cup of cranberry sauce, one cup plain Greek yogurt and then add at least a cup of coconut milk, plain or flavored. The result is a smoothie that is just tart enough to get your attention.

You can enhance this smoothie concept further by adding in some unsweetened apple juice. This turns your treat into a cranapple delicacy that will calm some of the bite out of the cranberry.

Strawberry Sunshine

If you are more of a smoothie traditionalist, how about keeping it simple with a little strawberry flavor. Mix about six chopped strawberries with one cup plain yogurt, 1 ¾ cup of milk and a handful of ice. Experiment with the recipe by adding in other fruits such as banana or mango.

Check out the local farmers market, there is usually one within driving distance of most Kirkland apartments, to get fresh produce for your smoothie this summer. Give us a call if you need directions or if you want more information on apartments in the area.

Good barbecue is abundant throughout the state of Texas, and those fortunate enough to live in Odessa apartments enjoy easy access to some of the region’s best BBQ joints. For a finger-licking good time, be sure to check out one of these five amazing BBQ joints:

The Tastiest BBQ in Odessa

Smokey’s West Texas BBQ. Smokey’s offers a delectable barbecue sauce with just the right amount of smoky flavor. Most visitors favor the restaurant’s delicious brisket, but the baked beans and potato salad are also worth ordering.

True Texas BBQ. An accurately named restaurant, True Texas BBQ delivers the exact types of barbecue dishes you would expect to be served in the great state of Texas. The mouthwatering dishes at True Texas BBQ are smoked up to fourteen hours before served, giving them a true smoky flavor that cannot be matched. The acclaimed barbecue joint is conveniently placed within several H-E-B stores in the Odessa area.

The Rose Bar B Q. A true hole in the wall, The Rose Bar B Q may not be the most conveniently located BBQ restaurant in the Odessa region — but it certainly has one of the best menus. No trip to this charming joint is complete without a taste of the acclaimed Cowboy Pie. Similar to Frito pie, this amazing creation replaces ground beef with brisket. Other great menu items include ribs, burgers and potato salad.

Hercules. Sit-down barbecue restaurants are great, but when you’re on the go, there’s nothing better than the pulled pork and jalapeño poppers served at the Hercules food truck. Family owned and operated, Hercules emphasizes quick and friendly service. In addition to stopping along many busy streets in Odessa, the food truck offers private catering services.

Bar-B-Q Barn. Juicy brisket, ribs and sausage are all available at Bar-B-Q Barn. The family-friendly restaurant offers an array of affordable family packs, which allow large groups to enjoy delicious BBQ on the cheap.

Nothing says Texas quite like a rack of barbecue ribs. At Midland Odessa, we are happy to put you within easy reach of Odessa’s most prized BBQ joints. Get in touch today to learn more about our apartments and the best of Odessa living.

Apartments in Abilene, Texas have never offered such elegant living conditions as they do today. We offer swimming pools, fitness centers, gorgeous maple cabinetry and nearby shopping and dining opportunities. When you opt-in to any one of our six, stunning locations in and around the Abilene, Texas area, you’re going to love what’s waiting for you, including an abundance of reputable restaurants that serve up a variety of tasty brunch options.

The Beehive

Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, The Beehive is Abilene’s premiere steakhouse. Located on Cedar Street, the Beehive has garnered over 269 reviews on YELP that give it a four and one-half star rating. Descriptors such as delicious, best steak in Abilene and wonderful dining experience make this steakhouse the place to go when you’re super-hungry for brunch.

Hickory Street Cafe

The Hickory Street Cafe, located — where else — on Hickory Street, offers up a nice, casual atmosphere, excellent food and fine service. Customers love the laid-back atmosphere and the customer service that’s nearly as good as the food. Whether you’re in the mood for a quick sandwich, a light salad or something more filling, you’re going to love the warm, cozy feel of Hickory Street Cafe.

Joe’s Pizza and Pasta

When it’s carbs you crave, you can’t score them any better than those prepared at Joe’s Pizza and Pasta on Treadaway BLVD. Great Italian food, hometown favorite and hidden gem all describe customer’s reactions to this eatery that’s open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. When it’s brunch you need, Joe’s Pizza and Pasta has you covered.

Apartments in Abilene, Texas aren’t necessarily difficult to find, but the best options always get snapped up first. Don’t miss out on everything we have to offer. If you’re thinking of relocating to Abilene, Texas for your job, your family, or just because, give Weidner Apartment Homes a call.

We’ll be happy to schedule a tour of any one or more of our six communities scattered throughout the area. You want a comfortable, attractive home of which you can feel proud. We can help you get there. Give us a call today.

Your health is everything. When it comes to staying fit, it may be as simple as doing a bit of walking. The American Heart Association says that getting 30 minutes of activity each day and at least 150 minutes of moderate activity each week can offer numerous health benefits including reducing the risk of developing high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol. When you live at the Weidner Apartment Homes, it’s easy to do. Our Oklahoma apartments provide the perfect access to beautiful parks and walking paths.

Why Should You Walk?

There are various benefits to walking. It does not take a lot of time or complex workouts to achieve these benefits either. What’s more, you can incorporate walks pretty easily when you live in our apartments.

#1: Walking helps you maintain a healthy weight. Those who walk for an hour a day are able to better maintain their weight, which offers a number of benefits to your health.

#2: Lower your risk of developing high blood pressure. Walking 30 minutes a day, even in 10 minute intervals throughout the day, can reduce your risk of developing heart disease.

#3: Walk to protect against dementia. Regular exercise like walking may help to prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s and dementia because it improves blood flow through the brain and reduces vascular disease risk.

#5: Walking may reduce your risk of developing cancer. Some studies show that those who walk seven hours a week were 14% less likely to develop breast cancer.

Keep in mind that you don’t have to walk for hours a day to benefit from it. Work up to longer periods of time based on your physical goals and current fitness levels.

Check Out Our Apartments in Oklahoma

Take a few minutes to check out our Weidner Apartment Homes. Our apartments in Oklahoma are just minutes from area parks and we offer a number of both indoor and outdoor walking paths. Why not take a few minutes to check out our available floor plans.